TExES is the Texas Examination of Educator Standards. Texas Administrative Code 230.5 (b) requires every person seeking educator certification to perform satisfactorily on comprehensive examinations to ensure that each educator has the prerequisite content and professional knowledge to perform satisfactorily in Texas schools.

Who Must Take the TExES?

All History - 8th - 12th Grade Teaching and History - Social Studies 8th - 12th Grade Teaching majors intending to be certified as teachers have to pass the TExES either prior to graduation or afterwards. Students who wish to take the TExES prior to graduation may only do so if they first pass the History 8th - 12th Grade Teaching or History - Social Studies 8th - 12th Grade Teaching "benchmark test," both of which are administered by the History Department.

How Can I Prepare for the TExES?

The TExES is a challenging exam and passage of the exam is by no means certain. Accordingly, advisors make every effort to identify History - 8th - 12th and History - Social Studies - 8th - 12th Grade Teaching majors as early in their university careers as possible - ideally before the end of their sophomore years - and to impress upon them the need to start their preparation for the exam as soon as possible. Students should make a personal effort to maximize their historical/social studies readings and acquaint themselves with all the historical/social studies competency areas tested by the TExES.

History faculty also try to enhance prospective TExES takers' chances by incorporating some TExES competency essay questions into their tests and other assignments. Although courses taken within the history department can aid a student in reviewing and synthesizing their knowledge, nothing can guarantee a student will pass the TExES except the student's own diligent application to mastering all competency areas covered by the TExES. These competency areas are listed and defined in the TExES Preparation Manual which is available to students in the History Department (M O Building) from Mr. Jim Mills, the History Department's TExES contact person.

Workshops and Benchmark Exams

The History Department offers regularly scheduled workshops and "benchmark tests" throughout the academic year to help prepare students for both the History - 8th - 12th Grade Teaching and History - Social Studies - 8th - 12th Grade Teaching TExES certification. Students who have chosen one of these degree plans must pass the History Department "benchmark test" before being allowed to student teach. Mr. Jim Mills leads the workshop and "benchmark test" sessions, but he may also call on the assistance and expertise of other instructors.

2015 - Workshop/Benchmark TExES Preparation Schedule

The History Department, located in the M O Building, will be offering workshops and Benchmark Exams for all students enrolled in the History 8th – 12th Grade Teaching and History – Social Studies – 8th – 12th Grade Teaching degree plans. Both workshops and Benchmark Exams will be available on the following dates and times:

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